There’s nothing like going for a swim in a Kentucky swimming hole — these natural pools are one of the most delightful simple pleasures of summer. But there’s one popular swimming hole in Bell County, Kentucky, that has a very tragic and terrible secret. Known as “Devil’s Garden,” this swimming hole in Kentucky is a haunting place where a terrible tragedy took place on a seemingly normal night not too long ago.
Middlesboro, Kentucky, is a place that, by all accounts, is your classic small town in the Bluegrass.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Located in the heart of Bell County, Middlesboro is home to about 9,000 residents, and boasts a beautiful downtown framed by the glorious Great Smoky Mountains.
Bell County KY Tourism/Facebook
A man-made canal flows through the heart of the city, and Fern Lake is located nearby. In addition, several small creeks and little cascades can be found along the trails and forests surrounding this small town – Cumberland Gap National Historic Park is a popular place to hike near Middlesboro.
Internet Archive Book Images/Flickr
But the wilds of Southeast Kentucky aren’t as peaceful as they seem. Within Bell County, there is a small, local swimming hole simply known as “Devil’s Garden.”
Mingo Holler Outfitters/Facebook
One day, not so long ago, a group of teenagers were swimming here on a sticky summer night. At some point in the night, one of the kids slipped and hit his head on a rock in the shallows, an accident the teens thought was fatal.
Kentucky Unknown/Facebook
Panicking, the teens hid the body under the water, beneath a heavy rock. The next day, the kids returned to find the local authorities had already arrived and discovered the body. To their horror, their friend had drowned during the night; he hadn’t, as they’d believed, died from the fall.
Bell County KY Tourism/Facebook
They lived with their secret for over 15 years until they each started disappearing mysteriously. After carrying the weight of this secret for years, the remaining two teens – now adults – confessed and were sent to prison. Ever since, on the night of every full moon, the moon’s reflection casts a skull-like image on the water’s surface – a haunting reminder of a terrible tragedy.
Proggie/Flickr
Did you know the tragic history behind this Kentucky swimming hole?
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Bell County KY Tourism/Facebook
Internet Archive Book Images/Flickr
Mingo Holler Outfitters/Facebook
Kentucky Unknown/Facebook
Proggie/Flickr
There are some places in Kentucky that have borne witness to unspeakable tragedy. The Pope Lick Bridge is another such place.
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Address: Bell County, KY, USA
